Weekend Menu Hacks: Quinoa Tabbouleh With Chia & Chicken with Turmeric

We know what you’re thinking: It’s hot. You’re sick of watching what you eat so you can look great in that swimsuit or Athleta yoga pant. And you’d rather wash the dog than turn on the oven. We feel you. In solidarity, we’re offering two simple recipes that are triple threats: healthy, delicious and relatively low-cook.

Tabbouleh, a Middle Eastern staple that is as versatile as Olympic decathlete Ashton Easton, is at the center of any good mezze. Although it’s intrinsically healthy, we added some of our favorite ingredients to take it up a notch. Our Quinoa Tabbouleh with Chia and Corn is the result. Protein-packed quinoa replaces bulgur; chia seeds provide additional fiber, Omega-3s and calcium; and sweet corn lends color and crunch.

We’re pairing it with a Poached Chicken with a Creamy Turmeric Sauce. Poaching is about the easiest cooking technique (and one of the healthier ones, even with the loss of some nutrients) as it’s simply simmering food in water. We paired it with a Greek yogurt sauce that is flavored with the ingredient of the moment — anti-inflammatory turmeric, as well as cumin, cilantro and cucumber. You can load up the chicken, sauce and tabbouleh in one delicious lettuce leaf cup or serve together as entree and side. All of this and a bag of baked chips, literally and figuratively, and you’ve got yourself a light lazy summer lunch, brunch or dinner.

A Late-Summer Feast

Watermelon-Cucumber Agua Fresca

Poached Chicken with Creamy Turmeric Sauce

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Chia and Corn

Frozen Sliced Peaches With Yogurt and Honey

Make these recipes and upload a photo to Instagram or Pinterest with the hashtag #cleanplates. We’ll choose our favorite and the winning brilliant photographer will get The Clean Plates Cookbook.

Step 1: Slice peaches and place in the freezer. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa, add the chia, and olive oil; chill.

Step 2: Poach the chicken.

Step 3: Combine the tabbouleh’s tomatoes, parsley and other ingredients.

Step 4: Whisk the vinaigrette.

Step 5: Make the yogurt-turmeric dressing.

Step 6: Blend up your drinks.

Step 7: Get out the sliced chilled peaches and top with yogurt and honey.

Step 8: Food in mouth. #Yum.

Originally published at Clean Plates.